The Sanitarium by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 11, 1877

The Sanitarium.

By James White

OUR frequent pleas for action upon broader plans have been a source of trial to some of narrow views and little faith, and many have failed to understand and appreciate them. Such individuals have a demonstration of the necessity for such plans, and of the success which will attend their adoption, in the prosperity which has attended the workings of the Sanitarium during the past year. The annual report presented at the last meeting of the stockholders, held at the Michigan camp-meeting, showed an increase of more than $9,000 during the last year.

For several years we have been laying plans for improving matters at the Sanitarium. Within the last year we have been enabled to bring about changes which have succeeded, with the blessing of God, beyond our expectations. When we returned from the Pacific Coast last spring we found the old buildings of the Sanitarium overcrowded with patients. The old and considerably dilapidated bath-rooms were quite inadequate to meet the demands daily made upon them. They were so closely occupied from early morning until late at night that it was really impossible to give patients the attention which they required. The dining-rooms were in the same crowded condition. About one hundred and fifty persons daily took their meals in rooms really too small to accommodate, comfortably, one-half the number. The growing popularity of the institution gave promise of a still further increase in numbers, in spite of the poor accommodations.

A due consideration of all the circumstances convinced us that the time had fully come for a move to be made in the direction of improvements. With this conviction we encouraged the immediate erection of a building suitable for meeting the wants of the institution at the present time. Such a building was planned, and the work of erecting it has been pushed with all possible energy until now. The new bath-rooms are needed greatly, and if the work progresses without interruption, they will be ready to occupy in a short time. Patients still crowd in, so that the number is as great as at any previous time during the year, and greater than at any previous time at this season of the year. Students are also flocking in to attend the college in greater numbers than ever before. As the number of patients has increased, they have not only filled the buildings of the Sanitarium, but have also monopolized the college cottages previously occupied by students. The result is that it is impossible to find suitable quarters for the numbers who come.

To meet these pressing wants, the new buildings must be pushed to completion with all possible rapidity, and this is now being done. Fully one hundred and fifty men are busily engaged with the various portions of the work. Workmen are plenty and willing to work for low wages. The only thing needed is money. More than a thousand dollars are required every week to pay help. Of course the institution cannot supply the necessary funds so rapidly as this, and money must be furnished from some other source. Here is a fine opportunity for our brethren of means to use their golden talents where they will accomplish great good. We do not call now for donations, but for loans. Let those of our brethren who have cash on hand or on deposit in banks, loan to the institution, without interest, or at very low rates of interest, such sums as they can without great embarrassment. Twenty thousand dollars are needed immediately. Money will be acceptable in sums of one hundred dollars and upward. There are many who can place in the institution for a year or so five hundred or one thousand dollars with very little or no inconvenience to themselves, and they may be the means of great good by so doing. Notes payable in one, two, or three years will be given for all sums received. Notes for shorter time will be given when required.

If those of our brethren who have means at command will take hold of this matter promptly, they may be of great service in the cause; but if money is not obtained from some source, the work must stop, notwithstanding the urgency for its completion. Under the circumstances every friend of the cause will undoubtedly be grieved to have the work delayed a moment; and it need not be if those who have the ability to help will do their duty; and all should bear in mind that help is wanted immediately. Those who are disposed to help in this emergency should address the Sanitarium at once. We hope to be able to report several thousand dollars received by next week.

JAMES WHITE.